Wikipedia

1897–98 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

The 1897–98 season was Burslem Port Vale's second season of football (fourth overall) in the Midland League.[1] Their league form proved streaky, as they lost seven of their opening nine fixtures but recovered to post nine wins in 12 games from November to March, ending the campaign in fifth-place. However, they proved their worth in the cup competitions, particularly so in the FA Cup, beating Small Heath and eventual Football League First Division champions Sheffield United en route to the second round. In the Birmingham Senior Cup they took First Division side West Bromwich Albion to a second replay, whilst they beat Stoke in the semi-finals of the Staffordshire Senior Cup, losing out to West Bromwich Albion in the final. Their success earned them re-election back into the Football League.

Burslem Port Vale
1897–98 season
ChairmanEdward Oliver
ManagerSam Gleaves
StadiumAthletic Ground
Midland League5th (23 points)
FA CupSecond Round
(knocked out by Burnley)
Birmingham Senior CupFirst Round
(knocked out by West Bromwich Albion)
Staffordshire Senior CupRunners-up
(knocked out by West Bromwich Albion)
Top goalscorerLeague: Danny Simpson (9)
All: Dick Evans, Danny Simpson (11 each)
Highest home attendance15,000 vs. Sheffield United, 2 February 1898
Lowest home attendance500 vs. Burton Wanderers, 11 October 1897
Average home league attendance1,400
Biggest win5–0 and 6–1
Biggest defeat0–3 (twice) and 1–4 (twice)

Overview

edit

Midland League

edit

Burslem Port Vale retained the entire first-team of the 1896–97 campaign and strengthened the squad by signing four Stoke players: former England international right-back Tommy Clare, right-half Lucien Boullemier, left-winger Billy Heames and left-half Ted McDonald.[1] They unveiled a new kit of red and white striped tops with blue knickers.[1] The season opened with an "exciting" 2–2 draw with Burton Wanderers; the attendance at the Athletic Ground was a healthy 2,000, though Clare had trouble with his boots and played most of the match wearing just one of them.[1] Two away defeats followed, and young reserve Frank Mitchell was then installed at centre-forward and proved an instant success, scoring a hat-trick in a 4–0 home win over Kettering.[1] However, four league defeats later the players and directors met to discuss what was going wrong; the 1–0 defeat by Barnsley St Peter's was a particular calamity as goalkeeper Tom Poole punched the ball into his own net from an indirect free kick.[1]

Four league defeats were followed by four straight league wins, including a double over third-placed Rushden.[1] They then slipped to a 4–1 boxing day defeat at Kettering but recovered to beat Doncaster Rovers 4–0 to head into second-place on 3 January.[1] This started a run of five wins and two draws from seven games, with Clare being credited for inspiring the players "with a confidence never before approached".[1] However, they finished the campaign with two away defeats, ending up in fifth-place with 23 points from 22 games.[1] Danny Simpson finished with a tally of nine league goals, indicating that the club could benefit from a consistent goalscorer at centre-forward.[1] Nevertheless, the club's exploits in the FA Cup saw them achieve 18 votes in their successful application to rejoin the Football League.[1]

Cup competitions

edit

Vale found great success in the FA Cup, beating Football League Second Division side Small Heath 2–1 in the third qualification round thanks to a brace from Clare; Small Heath had originally proposed to switch the venue to Muntz Street for a £100 payment, but were refused.[1] After a walkover victory against Kidderminster, they were fired by a "special inducement" and played "with dash and skill" to eliminate Burton Wanderers 2–1 to reach the first round proper.[1] Eventual Football League First Division champions Sheffield United were expecting to romp to victory at Bramall Lane, but the Vale team were in confident mood and held out for a 1–1 draw, the home side only staying in the tie due to a dubious penalty.[1] Vale rejected an offer of £250 to play the replay at Bramall Lane, and went on to win the tie 2–1; Dick Evans gave Vale a two-minute lead before United equalised with a rush goal eight minutes from time.[1] In extra time, United goalkeeper William Foulke "acted in an idiotic manner" and was caught out of position as Vale's Billy Heames broke away, running half the length of the pitch before pulling the ball back for Lucien Boullemier to score the winning goal.[1][2] Vale claimed earnings of £350 for the fixture as a crowd of 15,000 witnessed the giantkilling; the Burslem school board gave schoolchildren a special holiday so they could attend the game.[1] Second Division leaders Burnley awaited in the second round, but Vale were below par as they slipped to a 3–0 defeat at Turf Moor.[1][3]

Vale were pitted against high-flying First Division club West Bromwich Albion in the first round of the Birmingham Senior Cup and after two 0–0 draws were finally beaten 2–1 in the second replay.[1] Vale confidently dispatched Burton Wanderers 5–0 in the first round of the Staffordshire Senior Cup.[1] A 3–1 win over Potteries derby rivals Stoke in front of a home crowd of 7,000 took them into the final for the first time, where they again faced West Bromwich Albion, this time at the neutral venue of the Victoria Ground.[1] A 8,500 crowd turned up, but West Brom denied Vale any silverware as they claimed a 2–1 victory.[1]

Results

edit

Burslem Port Vale's score comes first

Legend

edit
Win Draw Loss

Midland League

edit
Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
6 September 1897 Burton Wanderers H 2–2 2,000 T.Evans, Belfield
11 September 1897 Barnsley St Peter's A 2–4 2,000 D.Evans, Belfield
18 September 1897 Long Eaton Rangers A 0–3 1,000
25 September 1897 Kettering H 4–0 Mitchell (3), Belfield
2 October 1897 Mexborough A 0–2 splendid
9 October 1897 Barnsley St Peter's H 0–1 1,200
16 October 1897 Burton Wanderers A 1–4 Peake
23 October 1897 Chesterfield H 1–2 1,000 McDonald
6 November 1897 Ilkeston Town H 4–0 1,500 McDonald (2), Bayley, D.Evans
13 November 1897 Rushden H 2–0 1,000 T.Evans, Simpson
4 December 1897 Mexborough H 5–1 Heames (2), Simpson (2), Price
18 December 1897 Rushden A 4–1 Price (2), Heames, T.Evans
26 December 1897 Kettering A 1–4
3 January 1898 Doncaster Rovers H 4–0 2,000 D.Evans (2), Simpson, Price
8 January 1898 Doncaster Rovers A 0–0 1,500
15 January 1898 Glossop North End A 1–0 2,000 Simpson
5 February 1898 Wellingborough Town H 6–1 1,000 Simpson (2), D.Evans (2), T.Evans, Bayley (pen)
19 February 1898 Long Eaton Rangers H 3–0 disgraceful Mitchell (3)
26 February 1898 Chesterfield A 1–1 4,000 Peake
12 March 1898 Glossop North End H 4–2 1,500 Simpson (2), Hodgkinson, o.g.
9 April 1898 Ilkeston Town A 1–2 1,500 Heames
16 April 1898 Wellingborough Town A 0–2 600

FA Cup

edit
Main article: 1897–98 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
3Q 30 October 1897 Small Heath H 2–1 2,000 D.Evans (2)
4Q 20 November 1897 Kidderminster H walkover
5Q 11 December 1897 Burton Wanderers H 2–1 1,500 Beech, D.Evans
1R 29 January 1898 Sheffield United A 1–1 14,000 McDonald
Replay 2 February 1898 Sheffield United H 2–1 15,000 D.Evans, Boullemier
2R 12 February 1898 Burnley A 0–3 11,000

Birmingham Senior Cup

edit
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
1R 13 December 1897 West Bromwich Albion H 0–0 6,000
Replay 17 January 1898 West Bromwich Albion A 0–0 3,000
Replay 7 February 1898 West Bromwich Albion A 1–2 3,000 Simpson

Staffordshire Senior Cup

edit
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
1R 11 October 1897 Burton Wanderers H 5–0 500 Belfield (2), T.Evans, D.Evans, Peake
SF 10 January 1898 Stoke H 3–1 7,000 T.Evans, others
F 5 March 1898 West Bromwich Albion N 1–2 8,500 Simpson (pen)

Player statistics

edit

Appearances and goals

edit
Pos. Name League FA Cup Birmingham Cup Staffordshire Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK George Lawton 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
GK   Herbert Birchenough 10 0 4 0 2 0 2 0 18 0
GK Lowe 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 4 0
GK Tom Poole 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
DF Jim Beech 18 0 5 1 2 0 3 0 28 1
DF George Hulme 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
DF   Thomas Spilsbury 16 0 5 0 2 0 3 0 26 0
DF   Tommy Clare 21 0 5 0 2 0 3 0 32 0
DF   McVicker 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
MF   Fred Belfield 9 3 1 0 0 0 1 2 11 5
MF   James Peake 17 2 4 0 1 0 3 1 25 3
MF Smith 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0
MF S. E. Bayley 6 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 7 2
MF   Lucien Boullemier 16 0 5 1 2 0 2 0 25 1
MF Thomas Goodall 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
MF   Billy Heames 17 4 4 0 2 0 2 0 25 4
MF   Charles Hodgkinson 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1
MF   Ted McDonald 21 3 4 0 1 0 3 1 29 4
FW Jim Mason 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
FW   Dick Evans 16 6 5 4 2 0 3 1 26 11
FW Danny Simpson 15 9 5 0 3 1 2 1 25 11
FW   Ted Evans 17 4 5 0 1 0 3 2 26 6
FW George Hewitt 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW Frank Mitchell 6 6 0 0 0 0 1 0 7 6
FW   George Price 3 4 1 0 1 0 0 0 5 4

Top scorers

edit
Place Position Nation Name Midland League FA Cup Other Total
1 FW Danny Simpson 9 0 2 11
– FW   England Dick Evans 6 4 1 11
3 FW Frank Mitchell 6 0 0 6
– FW   England Ted Evans 4 0 2 6
5 MF   England Fred Belfield 3 0 2 5
6 FW   England George Price 4 0 0 4
– MF   England Billy Heames 4 0 0 4
– MF   England Ted McDonald 3 1 0 4
9 MF   England James Peake 2 0 1 3
10 MF S. E. Bayley 2 0 0 2
11 MF   England Charles Hodgkinson 1 0 0 1
– MF   England Lucien Boullemier 0 1 0 1
– DF Jim Beech 0 1 0 1
– – – Unknown 0 0 2 2
– – – Own goals 1 0 0 1
TOTALS 45 7 10 62

Transfers

edit

Transfers in

edit
Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
1897 GK Lowe Free transfer [4]
Summer 1897 MF   Lucien Boullemier Stoke Free transfer [4]
Summer 1897 DF   Tommy Clare Stoke Free transfer [4]
Summer 1897 MF Thomas Goodall Audley Free transfer [4]
Summer 1897 DF   Billy Heames Stoke Free transfer [4]
Summer 1897 MF   Ted McDonald Stoke Free transfer [4]
Summer 1897 FW Frank Mitchell Free transfer [4]
Autumn 1897 MF S. E. Bayley Free transfer [4]
October 1897 GK   Herbert Birchenough Audley Free transfer [4]
October 1897 GK Tom Poole Crewe Carriage Works Free transfer [4]
1898 MF Charles Hodgkinson Free transfer [4]

Transfers out

edit
Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
1898 GK George Lawton Porthill Released [4]
1898 GK Lowe Released [4]
1898 MF Smith Released [4]
1898 FW Jim Mason Released [4]
Summer 1898 FW   George Hewitt Released [4]

References

edit
Specific
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Kent, Jeff (1990). "Trying to make the Grade (1888-1898)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 26–50. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. ^ "The Giant Killers". The Giant Killers. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  3. ^ Fielding, Rob (18 June 2020). "The most important giantkilling in Port Vale's history took place in 1898". onevalefan.co.uk. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
General
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1897–98_Burslem_Port_Vale_F.C._season&oldid=1243074311"